...declares: I've no contractor

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar declared on Saturday that she has no contractor.

In defence of Ashworth Jack, political leader of the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) and questions surrounding the construction of his multi-million-dollar Tobago house, Persad-Bissessar reiterated that today's election was not about Jack's house.

The Express exclusively reported that the contractor – Super Industrial Services (SIS) who did work on the Prime Minister's South Phillipine home also did work on Jack's sprawling residence.

The Express further exclusively provided concrete evidence in the form of bills to show that SIS provided labour and heavy equipment free of cost in the construction of Jack's house. Persad-Bissessar, speaking at a TOP public meeting in Mason Hall, Tobago, on Saturday said that the reports on Jack's house were political mischief.

"The story makes constant references to a company which they say did work on Ashworth's house and they say that company is the Prime Minister's contractor," said Persad-Bissessar.

She pointed out that her husband Gregory is a medical doctor and dealt with the construction of their house because she was busy with politics.

"Tonight I ask the question if a carpenter works in your house, is he your contractor? If a mason works in your house, is that mason your contractor?

"Am I supposed to monitor every contractor my husband hire during the ten years or 12 or 15 he took to build our home and so I ask why are they obsessed that we in the Partnership because of hard work and sacrifice to take care of our families to give homes to our families," said Persad-Bissessar.

"Tonight I hold my hands to you clean and clear, I have no contractor...and if you can find the evidence bring the evidence because you have none, she added.

Her contract, she said, is a social and political one to the people of Tobago and Trinidad.

She questioned why no questions were asked as to who were the contractors who built THA Chief SDecretary Orville London's house or Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley's.

Jack also dismissed reports on his house, saying that he had declared his assets to the Integrity Commission. –Anna Ramdass